Match-machine



3 Sheets-Sheet 1Q (No Model.)

L. KITTINGER.

MATCH MACHINE. No. 856,719. Patented Jan. 25; 1887.

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(Ne Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. L. KITTINGER'.

MATCH MACHINE. N0..356,719. Patented Jan. 25, 1887.

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L. KITTINGER; MATCH MACHINE. No. 356,719. g Patented Jan. 25, 1887.

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LEVi KITTINGEB, OF AKRON, OHIO.

MATCH-MAGHlNE.

SPECIFECATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 356,719, dated January 25, 1867,

Application tiled September 16.1586. Serial No. 213,868. (No model.)

To (025 whom it 72mg concern.-

Be itknown that 1', Lnvi Krrrrncnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in MatclrMachines, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to that class of match machines in which the splints are fed into a hopper, and from thence fed to a carrier that conducts or carries them through the various operations to which they are treated to pro duce matches; and it consists in various mechanisms hereinafter described and combinations hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved feeding device; Fig. 2, a plan view of the same; Fig. 3, a vertical longitudinal section of the same; Fig. 4:, a detail end elevation of mechanism below the hopper; Fig. 5, a detail, partially in section, of the carrienbelt; and Fi 6, a crosssection through the inclined frame, showing the said frame and carrienbclt only.

The frame of the machine, as shown in the drawings, is designated generally by A,but may be of any desired form, according to circumstances. A shaft, 13, which I shall designate the driveshaft, though power may be otherwise applied, is suitably supported in the frame, and carries opinion, G, and a gear wheel, D. The pinion C meshes with a gearwheel, E, on one end of a shaft, F, at one end of the machine, the other end of the said shaft carrying a bevel-gear, G. At the middle of the shaft 1* is a drum, IzI, having spurs thereon. Extending around the drum His an endless belt, I, hereinafter more specifically referred to, carried by an inclined frame, K, suitably supported in the main frame and provided at its upper end with a drum, L, similar to the drum H.

The drum L has hearings in blocks M. at each end, the said blocks having extensions N lying against guidepieces 0, each provided with slots 1?, through which extend pins or bolts B, secured to each of the extensions N. At the upper end of each piece 0 is an extension or projection, S, extending over the end of the extension N and carrying an adjusting-screw, which engages in a threaded socket or orifice in a portion of the said ex tension N, or, if preferred, in the block hL The means above described provide a suitable means for adjusting the drum L, and thus tightening the belt I, which I shall hereinafter refer to as the carricrbelt, and thereby ini- V, around which passes a carrier-chain, Y, of

a match-dipping machine. This chain maybe of any approved construction that will receive and retain the splints, and is so placed as to be adjacent to the lower end of the carrier-belt.

Projecting outward and upward from the lower end of the carricr-belt is a. frame, Z, forming one side of the splint receiving and feeding hopper. This frame may be made of a single piece, or may be made of some thin and light material strengthened by side bracepieces, A, firmly secured to the main frame,

and by lateral strips 13 at or near the top and bottom, and secured to the brace-pieces A.

The sides of the hopper are formed of pieces 0, having at each upper corner a finger or hearing, D, those adjacent to the frame Z entering eyes E on the upper edge of the said frame, and those at the other end of the upper edges of the said pieces entering sockets formed in the ends of strips F on the frame K. Extending from one side 0 to the other is a spacing and bracing rod, G, pivotally connected to said side pieces, and by a pitman, H, connected to a crank, I, carried by ashort upright shaft provided with a beveled pinion, K, meshing with the bevel-Wheel G on the shaft F. The side of the hopper opposite the frame Z is formed by a piece or plate, L, of suitable size to extend nearly to the carrierhelt, and is sustained at the ends by short standards or posts M, secured to the frame K. The said post-s M are slotted and carry adj nstable blocks N, which form bearings for the journals of a drum, 0', driven by a gear, I), meshing with the gear on the drive-shaft, and having an abrading-surface formed by corrugations, serrations, or otherwise, and supportedabove and in close relation to the surface of the carrier-belt and exterior to the hopper, but adjacent to the lower edge of the plate L.

By preference the fingers D, that engage in the strips F, extend under the spindles or journals of the drum 0, which is located between the hopper and the ends of the said strips.

Arranged parallel to and above but inclose relation to the carrier-belt are strips P, parallel one to the other, and extending from the drum 0 to the top of the incline formed by the frame K and the said belt. These strips 1? may be supported in any suitable manner; but I prefer to support them by a transverse brace,R,at about midway of their length, the said brace being secured to the frame K. Beneath the belt and in close relation thereto are strips S, similar to the strips P, and extending from the upper end of the incline to a point adjacent to the carrier-chain Y.

On the under side of the frame K arefianges T, adjacent to the edges of the carrier-belt, and extending beyond the lower end thereof. Continued from the lower ends of the strips S,but to one side of the carrier-belt, are fingers S, which extend beyond the limit of travelof the carrier-belt and cause the splints to drop therefrom. Fixed to the hopper or other part of the frame is a stop formed of a strip or projecting ,plate, 8', with its lower edge centrally over the carrier-chain Y and slightly belowthe upper surface thereof. The said strip also extends into the central groove of the carrier-chain and prevents any splints from becoming twisted and not properly seated in the chain.

The carrier-belt is formed of a strip or strips,U,of flexible material, joined by a lapjoint. On one side of the belt are strips V, of

-metal, and extending across the belt and placed a short distance apart to allow for the bending of the belt. Near each end and on both sides the plates are recessed, as at WV, the strips U being perforated coincident therewith. On the face of the belt are a series of T-shaped plates, X,placed closely together and coinciding with the strips V, the webs of the said plates being slightly inclined at the sides, and provided each with a lateral slot forming a central longitudinal groove, Y, on the face of the belt. The plates X and strips V project beyond the edges of the strips U, forming longitudinal grooves at the sides of the belt, and these grooves receive tongues or flanges Z, inwardly projecting fromthe edges of the frame K.

The operation of the machine is as follows, it being understood that it is placed in proper relation to a machine for performing the succeeding operation. on the splints and that the splints have already been made: The splints are fed in any suitable manner into the hop per. Power being applied to the drive-shaft, a reeiprocatory motion isimparted to the sides of the hopper, the lower parts thereof passing through the greatest are, by means of the gearconnection to the shaft F, the bevel-wheel G,

and connections to the pitman H, pivotally connected to the said sides, and motion is imparted to the carrier-belt by the drum on the shaft F, the spurs on the said drum entering the perforations in the belt and 'the recesses in the plates thereon. Motion is alsoimparted to the drum 0', as described. The reciprocation of the sides of the hopper cause the splints to be constantly and truly fed into the spaces between the webs on the plates on the face of the carrier belt, which latter is constantly traveling across the bottom of the hopper. As the belt passes from the hopper the drum 0', revolving in a direction which will cause its under surface to travel in a direction opposite to that of the belt, prevents more than one splint lodging in the spaces on the face of the belt, and the abrading-surface will immediately reduce any splint that, from being too large or from any other cause, may project above the webs on the plates on the belt to the proper level. As the splints are carried upward and then downward the strips above and below the belt prevent any displacement ofthe splints. WVhen atthe limit of the downward movement, the stop over the carrierchain of the match-machine and the side fingers cause the splints to fall fromthe carrierbelt into the said chain, and the strips on the belt and the links of the chain are so regulated that as the splints fall from the belt they will be received and clamped betweenthe links of the chain, and thereby carried through the various subsequent operations of dipping, drying, severing, &c. The stop over the carrier chain also serves to slightly spread the central portion of the splints, and thus prevent them from slipping past the edges ofthe chain when tipped during the operation of dipping.

'I have found that the operation of the carrier-belt is improved by being inclined, as shown.

\Vithout limiting myself to the precise con struction and arrangement of parts shown, I 7

claim- 1. In a feeding mechanism for match-machines, a hopper having movable and stationary sides, the former connected together, so as to have a simultaneous movement, substantially as described.

2. In a feeding mechanism for match-machines, a hopper having two of its opposite sides movable and pivotally connected together, so as to operate simultaneously, substantially as specified.

3. In a match-feeding mechanism, a hopper having movable and stationary sides, the former being pendently arranged, so that a vibrating or swinging motionmay be imparted to them, substantially as specified.

4. In a feeding mechanism for match-machines, a hopper having stationary and pendent vibrating sides, the latter connected together, so as to operate mutually, substantially as specified.

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5. The combination, withthe carrier-belt 1 of a match-feeding mechanism, of a hopper having movable and stationary sides, the former connected together, so as to operate mutually, substantially as described.

6. In a feeding mechanism for match-inachines, a hopper having movable sides, a connecting-rod pivoted to both sides, and a pitnian-connection to a crank-shaft, whereby the said sides are reeiprocated, substantially as described.

7. In a match-feeding mechanism, an inclined carrier-belt having a supporting-drum at the lower end provided with fixed bearings, and a supporting druin at the upper end provided with adjustable bearings, whereby the tension of the belt is regulated, substantially as described.

8. A carrierbelt for use in match-machines, consisting of a suitable flexible body having on its face a series of transverse plates with central webs, which form transverse grooves for the splints, and a series of transverse plates arranged on the opposite side of the belt and coincidently with the webbed plates, and connected to them by rivets passing through the body of the belt, substantially as described.

9. The combination, with the carrier chain of a match-machine and the carrier-belt of the feeding mechanism, of a stop, S, arranged contiguous to the carrier-belt and the carrierchain, whereby the splints are directed from theformer into the latter, substantially as described.

10. Ihe combination, with the carrier-belt,

and the carrier-chain, of the side fingers, S

and the central stop, S for directing the splints from the belt to the chain, substantially as described.

12. In a match-feeding mechanism, the combination of the hopper, the inclined belt traversing the same, the strips above and below the belt, the carrier-chain of the match-Inachine, and the stop and lingers for directing the splints from the belt to the chain, substantially as described. I

13. The combination of the hopper, the inolined carrier-belt, the abrading-drum contiguous with the belt and the hopper, the remining-strips above and below the belt, and means, substantially as described, for direct ing the splints from the belt to a match-making machine, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

LEVI KITTINGER.

W'itn esses F. A. WILcox, A. H. NOAH. 

